Great White Throne by J. B. Simmons Read Free Book Online

to—
    “The crescent moon,” said Don’s voice.  
    It made me jump to my feet, and almost out of my skin. He was beside me, from out of nowhere, and his dark eyes fixed on me. It was like he’d heard God’s words and come.
    “Isn’t it beautiful?” He gazed out into the night. “Know what it means?”
    “The moon?” I tried to sound composed.
    “Yes.”
    “I guess it means the moon completed another orbit around earth.”
    “Funny.” Don turned to me with his unnerving grin. “It makes no sense that your kind would have humor.”
    “Why?”
    His sudden laugh made me cringe. “How long will you pretend to not know me?”
    “You’re Donatello Cristo, the President of the UN.”
    “A name, a title. An insult for the god of this world. We are being honest, Eli. Would you dare insult me again?”
    “Why do you care what I say?”  
    “Because apparently my enemy cares.” He paused and looked back toward the moon. “I asked you a question. What does this crescent moon mean?”
    “It would mean a new month in a lunar calendar.”  
    “You’re getting closer. This will be the most important month in the earth’s history.”
    “The last month?”
    “Yes, my final victory.” His knuckles were white as he gripped the balcony’s rail. “Tonight my army attacks. The Muslims have just started their holy month celebration, Ramadan. They think my sights are only on Jerusalem, but I save that jewel for the end. My forces, sharp as this sickle moon, will first slice the legs off Persia. It will fall and burn in days. Then I will finish with Jerusalem, and all will worship me. Trustin me, Eli, or you will die like the rest of my enemies.”
    I was trembling—some foul combination of fear and anger and uncertainty. “Why are you telling me this?”
    He held me with his smile, teeth bared, and for a moment I thought he might swallow me like the dragon. But then he answered, “He is not the only one who cares about souls. You think we are so different—the maker and me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Just because he came first?” Don sighed. “A common mistake. The clouds give birth to lightning, but that does not make the lightning anything less. No, the lightning is more, just as I am more. We all crave to be worshiped. He just wants worship in a new place, with only his chosen. I would welcome all.”
    I felt Don’s words wrapping around me, soft and silky lies that bind like steel. My mind came to the question that had led me to God in the first place. “But why?” I asked. “Why does God want that?”
    “It doesn’t matter why. What matters is what you do and what you feel. He would make you a slave to his law. I will make you free.”
    In a virtual test tube . “I’ve been to Babylon,” I said flatly.
    His smile faltered, then his lips turned up again. “I want you on my side, Eli. You know you’re not like other people. You are to them what I am to the angels. And you saw how Michael fared.” He clasped my shoulder, tight. “We can rule this earth together. Don’t give that up for some vague promise of trust and wait .”
    A shudder ran down my spine. He had heard. I stuffed my fear down. “I’ll think about it.”
    “Time is running short. You have one more month.”
    A month stuck here? “If I am free, will you let me leave?” I asked. “Naomi, too?”
    “She must care for my son, and I promised you would stay with her. I know, you grow restless. So do I. If you want to protect Naomi’s life—” he paused, just long enough for me to understand his threat— “then you’ll join me in this battle. I have drones with more power than you’ve ever seen. Syncing to them is like harnessing a hurricane.”
    He said that as if I should be excited about the power, and as if I had a choice. I had to protect Naomi. Maybe I could at leastlearn something to help us escape. “I’m interested in these drones.”
    He smiled, glorious and inviting. “I will send you information. Take control of